Zero Dark Thirty (3/13/2013)

Rated R for Language, brutal disturbing images and strong violence.

Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Mark Duplass, Kyle Chandler, Chris Pratt and James Gandolfini

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt Locker)

This may not be the easiest film to watch, but it is a film every American should see.

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty reunites the Oscar winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) for the story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man.

Todd’s Word: First and foremost as I watch a movie like this I can’t help but appreciate the members of our military and the many sacrifices they make. It is not my intention to get political with this review, but I am sick and tired of hearing people bashing our military and the ugliness of war. This movie made me proud to be an American.

Jonathan’s Word: I agree. But at the same time, this film showed some of the ugly realities of war. I think some people will really struggle with the interrogation scenes at the beginning of the film. I wasn’t really expecting to see a movie where Americans were practically torturing people for information. It’s one of those ugly truths we’d probably rather not see.

Todd’s Word: We’re not really spoiling anything when we tell you the first 40 minutes of the film depict a member of the CIA torturing a prisoner. I agree. It is violent, disturbing and very controversial. As I just said I greatly appreciate our military and what they do to keep us safe. I will not fault them for doing everything they can to bring an end to terrorism as we know it.

Jonathan’s Word: My wife and I watched it together. She was in the Air Force and her brother is still currently in the Marines. But she hates torture. I was wondering if she was going to stick with this film… and she did. By the end of the film, she was glad she saw this little piece of history. But she wasn’t thrilled about the interrogation, for sure.

Todd’s Word: Let’s talk about the film as art. I love the cast and the amazing job they did living out characters who worked so hard and so tirelessly to get Osama bin Laden. They brought life to people you and I will probably never meet or even get a chance to know their true identity.

Jonathan’s Word: I loved the cast. Jessica Chastain has really proved herself in the last few years, as Celia Foote in The Help, her vulnerable role in Lawless, to her gritty performance in Zero Dark Thirty. This actress is one to watch. And she was surrounded by an amazing cast. I only wish some of those soldiers could have had a little more screen time.

Todd’s Word: Kathryn Bigelow has proven to be one of the most talented directors in Hollywood and she continues to impress with almost every decision in this film. I say “almost every decision” because the only criticism I have is that at times the movie dragged on.

Jonathan’s Word: I agree. I actually told my wife a couple times, “This movie is a little slow.” But neither of us wanted to turn it off. The pacing seemed typical of most films that gather Oscar buzz. Think of the majority of best picture nominees over the years: The Kings Speech—good, but slow, The English Patient—Zzzzzzzz…

Todd’s Word: Funny. Like the scene in this film when Maya pounds on the window and screams, “It’s been 100 days and nothing has happened.” At times I felt like it had been 100 minutes and nothing happened. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration and maybe I was tired when I watched it, but with the running time of 157 minutes, I will stand by my statement that at times the pace slowed way down.

Jonathan’s Word: But you couldn’t turn it off.

Todd’s Word: True. I really did love this movie. I am a proud American and deeply appreciate the men and women of our armed forces, and I appreciated how this film portrayed them as strong and determined. I’m going to give it a “Theater Worthy.”

Jonathan’s Word: My thoughts exactly.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex, but there is a brief nudity scene (we see the rear view of a naked terrorist).

The violence in this movie isn’t overly graphic, but it is dark, and gritty. Only about 7 people are shot onscreen. During the raid on Bin Laden’s compound, several people are shot. After they are dead, the SEALS shoot them again to make sure they are dead. After, we see each of them with a pool of blood around them. In the earlier part of the movie, there are many scenes of torture, each of these are disturbing.

There are about 49 F-words and several other obscenities.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. Why is Maya so determined to “get” Osama bin Laden?


2. What are some of the things she does to show her determination?


3. When was the last time you wanted something so badly you “worked it” without giving up?


4. Have you ever come to God with this kind of determination?


5. Read Luke 11:5-13
   
   Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.
   “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

   “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

   
   How does the visitor show determination? What happens in the story?


6. What do you think Jesus is trying to communicate here?


7. Why do you think Jesus is trying to get us to be persistent with God?


8. What is something you might want to bring to God this week?